e n i a l CityConnect B
W W W . C I . B L A I N E . M N . U S
January/February 2011
Fire Department Asks Residents to Help Keep Fire Hydrants Clear of Snow As snow falls this winter and the snowpack continues to build, the City of Blaine is asking for the help of residents with three important snow-related safety concerns: 1. Help the SBM Fire Department by clearing snow from around fire hydrants. During winter fire emergencies, firefighters lose valuable time locating and accessing fire hydrants. Residents are asked to clear fire hydrants in their neighborhoods, removing snow three feet in each direction to allow clearance for hoses. The house – and life – you save could be your own. 2. Do not allow children to build snow structures or tunnels in the snow banks at the end of driveways, in culs-de-sac or along roadways. Snowplows and other snow removal machinery may pass by at any time to remove snow or make space for future snow events.
3. Do not place garbage and recycling carts in the street where they can be hit and damaged by snowplows.
Tobacco Use is Within 25’ of Park Amenities New Tobacco Policy Enacted for City Parks
‘Shop with a Cop’ Program Helps Local Kids with Holiday Shopping The Blaine Police Department teamed with Blaine SuperTarget to make the holiday season extra special for 30 local children. With the help of school social workers, the Blaine Police Department identified children from six local elementary schools who needed extra cheer this holiday season. Target stepped in and put together a special holiday shopping event. To make the day special, Blaine’s officers, explorers, community service officers and reserves, all wearing Santa hats, picked up the children at home prior to their shopping spree. At SuperTarget, each child was given a donated
$75 gift card to complete holiday shopping for their family members. The children, many with shopping lists in hand, were paired with police helpers to guide them through the store. They were also treated to a meal in the food court. After loading their carts and purchasing the presents, cops and kids gathered with SuperTarget employees to wrap the many gifts. At the end of the day, Blaine’s officers returned the children home with bags of presents to share with their families so they could help spread holiday cheer at home this season.
The City of Blaine, in cooperation with Tobacco-Free Youth Recreation, has adopted a new Tobacco Use Policy for all Blaine parks, effective Jan. 1, 2011. Per the new policy, tobacco-free areas have been designated inside city parks. Those areas include all playground areas and 25 feet from playground borders or standalone equipment, including park benches or other seating within said areas. All playing fields, recreation areas and facilities are also included, with a 25-foot zone around all facility fencing or in-play areas, including bleachers and other seating areas. Entrances to all park buildings also have a 25-foot tobacco-free zone; the Blaine Senior Center in considered a park building. Each city park shelter also has a 25-foot zone. Signs will be posted in all city parks.